Darbepoetin α ameliorates neuronal damage in a rat model of acute ethanol intoxication.

Objective: Acute ethanol intoxication has been shown to cause oxidative damage in many organ systems including the brain. Erythropoietin has antioxidant effects and prevents neuronal damage in the animal model of ischemic brain injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of darbepoetin alpha, an analog of erythropoietin with a longer half-life and higher in vivo activity, on ethanol-induced acute brain injury.

Effects of lycopene on oxidative stress and remnant liver histology after partial hepatectomy in rats.

Background/aims: Partial hepatectomy is performed for the treatment of mass lesions in the liver. Lycopene, which is a carotenoid, is present in various physiologic processes. In this study, the effects of lycopene administration in partially hepatectomized rats were evaluated by assessing various oxidant/antioxidant parameters, remnant liver histology and plasma nitric oxide levels.

Evaluation of intraoperative parathormone measurement for predicting successful surgery in patients undergoing subtotal/total parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives/background: The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of intraoperative parathormone measurement addressing successful surgical resection in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: The study included 42 consecutive patients operated on between May 2006 and July 2008. Patients were grouped according to successful surgery (Group 1, n = 36) and persistent postoperative hyperparathyroidism (Group 2, n = 6).

Evaluation of visual evoked potentials in chronic renal failure patients with different treatment modalities.

Background: Uremia causes central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Modern diagnostic methods are useful for the recognition of CNS complications in uremic patients. Data concerning visual evoked potentials (VEPs) of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients is limited.

Donor heart preservation with iloprost supplemented St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution in isolated rat hearts.

This study was designed to assess the influence of St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution (St. Th.

Iloprost pretreatment before unilateral nephrectomy: an experimental study in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of iloprost administration before unilateral nephrectomy on postoperative interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), and oxidant/antioxidant status.

Methods: Malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were measured in the blood and remnant kidney of Adult male Wistar albino rats to assess oxidant and antioxidant status. The rats were divided into three experimental groups: sham group (S) (n = 12); unilateral nephrectomized group (N) (n = 12); an hour before unilateral nephrectomy iloprost (1 ng/mL/kg, intraperitoneal) administered group (IN) (n = 12).

The carotid-femoral (aortic) pulse wave velocity as a marker of arterial stiffness in familial Mediterranean fever.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that chronic inflammation impairs vascular function and leads to an arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) increase in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-three patients (17 women) with FMF, and 23 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. Aortic PWV was determined by using an automatic device (Complior Colson, Createch Industrie, France) that allowed on-line pulse wave recording and automatic calculation of the PWV.

Transient hypothalamic hypothyroidism and diabetes insipidus after electrical injury.

Transient or permanent diabetes insipidus (DI) due to damage in vasopressinergic neurons--which may be hereditary or caused by head injury, brain surgery, tumors, granulomatous disorders, infections, vascular disorders, autoimmunity, and idiopathic causes--is not rare. Hypothalamic hypothyroidism is due to decreased thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion and is seen rarely. We report a case of transient hypothalamic hypothyroidism and transient DI due to electrical injury.